February 2014

Been working away like a madman on some hand sculpted frames, but in the meanwhiles, here’s a new small painting.

This was a fun one, where I tried to work on my subtle midtones a bit better. I’ve found my middle tones could use a bit more subtlety, and I’m pleased with the execution. Always more to learn, but then, that’s part of why I work. Enjoy “Watcher.”

I determined my recently completed small painting: “Junior Mycologist” “needed a little something special in terms of framing. I know many buyers of my art drop serious money on getting the work framed, and I’ve been enjoying experimenting with sculpture lately, so I thought I would combine both ideas. The result is something I’m very excited about: custom, hand-sculpted framing for some upcoming paintings. I take a regular frame and use it as a base to build up a sculptural layer, that makes the frame specific and one-of-a-kind. I then float-mounted the painting along with a custom collaged background, which I then painted. The result is something I’m very pleased with and hope you like too. If there is sufficient interest, I may even do several of these and present them all at once as a sort of mini collection.

The sculptural elements are made with MagicSculpt: a two-part epoxy clay. I really enjoy working with the stuff, especially as you only have a few hours to work with it after you mix it before it becomes rock hard. You have to work fast, or work in layers to get your desired effects. If you’re interested in some of my other sculptural works with the same clay, check out my webstore. In the meantime, enjoy “Junior Mycologist.”